Stairs to the AquaSpa on Celebrity Solstice
Cruise ship spas have come a long way. In fact, some of the best spas at sea can compete head-to-head with land-based competitors and come out on top. That’s because several lines now offer spa staterooms, restaurants, and suites that let passengers extend the spa experience into their living spaces.
From thermal suites and villas with spectacular ocean views to Japanese gardens with cascading waterfalls, cruise ship spa are also some of the most beautiful in the world. And the range of available treatments is truly impressive.
Here’s our list of the Top 10 Cruise Ships for Spa Lovers:
1) Costa Luminosa
At 23,000 square feet, the two-level Samsara Spa is the largest at sea with a thalassotherapy Bath, rock sauna, winter garden, Turkish bath, Tepidarium, Laconium, and steam clay bath. Passengers looking for a complete experience can book one of the 99 Samsara Suites, which include a private consultation and two free treatments. Guests unwind after their treatments with a cup of tea in the Japanese garden or UVA-ray solarium. The stylish Samsara Restaurant specializes in wellness cuisine that’s healthy and delectable.
2) Cunard Queen Mary 2
When Queen Mary 2 launched in 2004, she was the largest passenger ship ever built. And the first cruise ship to feature a Canyon Ranch SpaClub. With 20,000 square feet dedicated to health, beauty, and relaxation, Queen Mary 2 lets her 2,620 passengers make the most of their days at sea. The waterfall-crowned Thalassotherapy pool, thermal suite with Finnish and herbal saunas, staff of more than 50, and 24 treatment rooms, make this facility is one of the best cruise ship spas.
3) Celebrity Solstice
Celebrity’s AquaSpa by Elemis concept lets spa-loving passengers indulge themselves endlessly during their time at sea. Guests in the 130 AquaClass staterooms enjoy special amenities like showers with multiple heads, two complimentary spa treatments, exclusive access to Blu – a restaurant that serves spa cuisine – and unlimited use of the AquaSpa’s hamman, beautiful solarium pool, and Persian Garden, where they can relax on heated marble lounges. Signature treatments include couples massages, stone treatments, and seaweed massage.
4) Norwegian Gem
With 18 treatments rooms — three designed for couples — a hydrotherapy pool, steam rooms, a sauna, and rain showers, the Mandara-managed Yin & Yang Spa aboard Norwegian Gem is extensive enough to meet the demands of a large (2,376-passenger) ship. Attention to detail is evident in touches like heated lounge chairs by the thalassotherapy pool, and the beautiful thermal suite includes a plunge pool and smashing ocean views.
5) Crystal Serenity
Designed with Feng Shui in mind, the 8,200-square-foot Spa & Salon aboard Crystal Serenity has fabulous ocean views, a Zen rock garden, and fountains. It’s 60% larger than the spa on Crystal Symphony. Experience near weightlessness in the dry-float bed suite, enjoy the shower area with multiple heads and side-body jets, or unwind in the Japanese whirlpool. A wide variety of Elemis Spa therapy treatments are available.
6) Disney Magic
The highlight of the 10,700-square-foot Vista Spa & Salon are the Spa Villas that have a private verandah with hot tub, open-air shower, and outdoor chaises in addition to a treatment room. Couples can book packages that include a soak in the Jacuzzi and a 50-minute massage. There’s an aromatherapy steam room designed to resemble a rainforest and a sauna designed to look like an ancient Roman bath.
7) Oceania Regatta
Oceania recently introduced Canyon Ranch SpaClubs to their ships. The spa on Regatta has thermal environments including an aromatic steam room, Thalassotherapy pool, and serene sundeck. Passengers can indulge in Ayurvedic massages, treatments, wraps, and scrubs for face and body, and stone, aromatherapy, or deep-tissue massage.
Queen Mary 2
8) Seabourn Odyssey
The two-deck Spa at Seabourn on Seabourn Odyssey features a sliding-glass wall that opens onto an al fresco relaxation area. With seven treatment rooms, a Finnish sauna, steam room, and thalasspotherapy pool, it’s a good-sized facility for a 450-passenger ship. For the ultimate experience, reserve one of the 750-square-feet Spa Villas, where you’ll be pampered for half a day. The suite includes a wrap-around deck with lounges, separate sitting and dining areas, two treatment beds, and an indoor double lounge bed.
9) Regent Seven Seas Voyager
Regent Seven Seas is the third cruise line to welcome the Canyon Ranch SpaClub aboard. Their award-winning skin and body treatments, massages, acupuncture, and beauty treatments are available in a stylish facility. Voyager also features Canyon Ranch Spa Cuisine selections in her restaurants.
10 ) Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas
Royal Caribbean’s Vitality at Sea program includes seminars and workshops on a variety of wellness topics. The spa offers a vast array of Elemis and La Therapie treatments including algae detox, oxygen lifting facials, seaweed wraps and massages, stone therapy, botox, acupuncture, microdermabrasion, and reflexology. The thermal suite has heated ceramics loungers, and grottos with aromatherapy-scented mists, vapors, and steam.
Find other Top 10 Cruise Ships here.
Stairs to the AquaSpa on Celebrity Solstice Image Flickr: Tom Mascardo 1
Queen Mary 2 Image Flickr: Tobias Mandt